I am trying to set up an ad hoc network under both Windows 7 and Linux with these WiFi cards. However, whilst I can set up an ad hoc network at 2.4 GHz, I have not been able to do so at 5 GHz. There should be no regulatory reasons why I cannot do that in the UK.

Has anyone else been able to set up such an ad hoc network, and if so how?

I am using some Dell rugged laptops with the 7260s running either Windows 7, Ubuntu and Fedora.

Please elaborate on the process you are using to configure the Ad Hoc network, let us know the application name, version and steps you have followed; the computer model, wireless adapter driver version, and any other information that may help provide accurate recommendations.

All the available 5GHz channels are listed as "no IR" which means that the device is not allowed to initiate a transmission without first being told it is allowed to do so by, say, an access point. AFAIK this is what prohibits the device from creating an ad hoc network in a 5GHz channel.

But "iw reg get" tells me that:

country GB: DFS-ETSI

(2402 - 2482 @ 40), (N/A, 20)

(5170 - 5250 @ 80), (N/A, 20)

(5250 - 5330 @ 80), (N/A, 20), DFS

(5490 - 5710 @ 160), (N/A, 27), DFS

(57000 - 66000 @ 2160), (N/A, 40)

which suggests that there are no fundamental regulatory restrictions constraining the ability to create a 5GHz ad hoc network in the UK. It looks to me that the card itself has an unnecessarily restrictive view of the local regulations.

Is there any way around this restriction? If the restrictions are stored on the card itself, is there anyway to overwrite the restrictions with a less constraining policy?

Thanks for the answer Jonathan_intel. It seems a shame that Intel block operation of ad hoc mode at 5GHz because AFAIK there are no regulatory constraints of operating an ad hoc network at 5GHz in the UK. We have been able to do just that with other adapters. What I think the adapters (or the underlying platform) need to be able to do in some of the 5GHz channels is perform dynamic frequency selection (DFS) to allow wifi networks and radar to coexist. However, in channels 36-52 (5170-5250 MHz) there is not a requirement for DFS. Hence even if the adapter does not implement DFS it should still be able to set an ad hoc network in those channels.

Could you confirm whether this assessment is true and whether this is likely to persist for future Intel wifi products?

The "no IR" (cannot initiate radiation) limit on 5 GHz is clearly not needed for regulatory compliance, in many of the markets this device is sold into---most notably the United States. So the question is really twofold, (1) Was this intentional? and (2) Can anything be done about it? apart from switching to another wireless card.

Would also like to add that I am disappointed to not be able to use Intel cards the way I use competitor cards in conjunction with hostapd-- iw list output in Linux makes for a lacklustre outcome. --The cards have great support as a client device, don't get me wrong. But not having master mode available in linux (that allows me to spin up an AP on demand) is why I've been buying cards from your competitors...

While I acknowledge Intel's right to enable/disable features as they see fit, I have to say, "designed to be used as WiFi clients" sounds awfully like code words for "intentionally crippled to support our market segmentation strategy." (Unless there is some deep technical reason why the bit sequences in AP packets require different hardware than the bit sequences in client packets?) Companies do this all the time, of course, but as certain of your competitors in the wireless space are not doing it, I hope you can understand why this will push many of us away.

We understand your concern, and you can be sure we take your comments and recommendations into consideration. Your feedback is very important as it helps us understand the needs of our customers.

Please understand that Intel® Wi-Fi Products are designed according to international standards and regulations, since they are integrated in systems from different manufacturers all over the world. For this reason, some features, like the one mentioned in this forum are not supported by these adapters.